Right-leaning band sings for Occupy

Although it shuns titles and branding, the nationwide (and international) Occupy movement we’ve seen over the past year has largely been pegged as a left-of-center effort. But, little-known fact: At the Occupy Congress effort earlier this week, a band that performed was actually full of die-hard conservatives.

Madison Rising, a newly formed, self-described “pro-American” conservative band, managed to score some stage time during the Occupy Congress rally in front of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. The band was in town to appear at The Heritage Foundation and perform at the Capitol Hill Club, but, on a whim, asked a radio station set up at the Occupy protest if they could mic up and have some stage time.

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Lead singer Dave Bray said that to his shock, “we were met with a warm welcome” during the band’s five-song set before several hundred Occupy demonstrators.

“It was surprising to see their eyes light up when we played our songs,” said Bray. “It was probably the highlight of my day.” Madison Rising performed five songs as the sun set and Bray says that, by the time their set was over, their audience had swelled to well more than 100 people.

Bray doesn’t agree with almost everything about the Occupy movement, but says, “If we can use music to reach across the aisle to the uninformed, the under informed and ill informed, I think it says a lot for Madison Rising, our message and the Occupiers. I really still think there’s some light there that can be rekindled and there is a market for the Occupiers’ minds. They’re looking for something to think about and they don’t know how to express it.”

When the band later played at a more traditional setting, The Capitol Hill Club, long known as a GOP enclave, the band met a Republican congressman there, but “it’s absolutely pathetic of me to not remember his name. But you know how that goes.” They also plan to perform at the upcoming CPAC conference.

But Bray wants it to be clear that they’re not out to simply goof on liberals.

“It wasn’t like we’re trying to punk them,” said Bray. “It was more like, ‘This is what we’re about. Have a listen.’”

Madison Rising’s first album was released on Oct. 17 and the name comes from, you guessed it, James Madison (Bray says the band wanted to “pay homage to James Madison and how patriotic he is and how he brought a nation together”). More info can be found on the band’s website, www.MadisonRising.com